We're looking for an experienced and technically skilled Lead Specialist Engineer - Networks to play a key role in maintaining and enhancing the critical network infrastructure that underpins UKHSA's vital public health mission.
This is an exciting opportunity to work within a highly specialised environment, ensuring the availability, performance, security and resilience of enterprise network services. You'll act as a technical expert within your field, supporting the delivery of robust, secure and reliable networking solutions while contributing to the continuous improvement of our ICT services. As a senior technical specialist, you'll work closely with engineers across the ICT function, respond to incidents and service disruptions, and help drive best practice across network operations and service delivery.
As a Lead Specialist Engineer, you'll support the delivery of technical excellence across UKHSA's network environment and help ensure services remain secure, resilient and fit for future needs.
Key responsibilities include:
- Managing, maintaining and optimising network infrastructure to ensure high levels of availability and performance.
- Configuring, monitoring and supporting network hardware, software and associated technologies.
- Troubleshooting incidents, outages and technical issues, taking swift action to minimise disruption and restore service.
- Maintaining system security, integrity and resilience, including access controls, backup arrangements and disaster recovery processes.
- Applying patches, upgrades and enhancements in a timely and controlled manner.
- Monitoring performance, capacity and utilisation trends, providing recommendations for future improvements and investment.
- Producing and maintaining technical documentation, procedures and operational standards.
- Supporting infrastructure projects, system implementations, upgrades and migrations.
- Providing technical guidance, knowledge sharing and support to colleagues, including junior engineers where required.
- Ensuring compliance with UKHSA policies, security standards and industry best practice.
- Keeping up to date with emerging technologies and making recommendations on innovations that could benefit UKHSA's network services.
- Providing accurate effort estimates, technical advice and updates to senior engineers and managers.
- Participating in out-of-hours support activities when required.
We're looking for someone who combines strong technical expertise with a proactive and collaborative approach. You'll have experience managing and supporting complex network environments and be confident working across a broad range of networking technologies. You'll be able to diagnose and resolve technical issues effectively, balance multiple priorities and communicate complex technical information clearly to a variety of audiences.
Essential Criteria
- Extreme Networks and Cisco network equipment.
- Network routing and TCP/IP protocols.
- Palo Alto Firewalls.
- Extreme Networks (or equivalent) Wireless access point technologies.
- VPN deployment and configuration.
- NCSC requirements for the implementation, management and administration of secure networks.
- Familiarity with NCSC Secure by Design Principles.
- Understanding of network security principles and practices, data encryption and remote access technologies.
- WAN/LAN/WLAN Architectures.
- Application Delivery Controllers and/or Load Balancing technologies.
- Must have previous experience of undertaking a specialist role and of managing systems for a large user base.
- Experience with monitoring a network infrastructure to optimise performance and support capacity planning.
- Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend an appropriate course of action to address the issues.
- Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision, working to tight and often changing timescales.
- Formal technical qualification, e.g. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or equivalent.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience with Network Function Virtualisation and Software Defined Network architecture.
- Skills for communication on complex matters and difficult situations, requiring persuasion and influence.
Why Join UKHSA?
This is your opportunity to apply your technical expertise to work that genuinely makes a difference. At UKHSA, you'll be part of an organisation whose technology supports critical public services and helps protect the health and wellbeing of millions of people.
In return, you'll benefit from:
- Working on nationally significant technology services.
- A generous Civil Service pension, with employer contributions averaging 28.97%.
- Exposure to complex, large-scale and diverse network environments.
- Investment in learning, development and professional certifications.
- A collaborative, supportive and inclusive culture.
- Opportunities to influence the future of critical public sector technology.
Discover more about our rewards and benefits on our website.TPBN1_UKTJ
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Lead Specialist Engineer - Networks in Andover employer: UK Health Security Agency
At UKHSA, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that values innovation and professional growth. As a Lead Cyber Security Architect, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on public health security while enjoying competitive salaries, including a market pay supplement, and the flexibility of remote work. Our commitment to employee development ensures that you will continuously enhance your skills in a supportive environment dedicated to safeguarding national services.
